Kent generations remember Edinburgh firefighter

Proud great-grandchildren donate watch to Museum of Fire

The Museum of Fire in Lauriston Place recently received a very special gift from Robert (18) and eleven year old Cameron Hall (pictured) in remembrance of their great-grandfather David Hall. Three generations of the Hall family travelled up from Kent to visit the Museum, once the fire station where David worked.

David served as a firefighter with the then South Eastern Fire Brigade until sadly he died in an accident at work in 1967. Both grandsons were accompanied by their parents and grandparents last week when they presented a watch to the Museum in memory of the firefighter.

Alistair MacDonald, Museum of Fire, said: ““We were all very pleased to welcome the Hall family from Kent to the Museum of Fire in Edinburgh.

“It was a privilege to show Robert and Cameron around the museum along with their grandmother Sue and explain a bit about the kind of work their great-grandfather would have done whilst serving as a firefighter. Sadly David Hall passed way in 1967 following an accident at the Service’s headquarters on Lauriston Place.

“It was a real honour for our staff to be able to meet the family and take some time to remember David.”

Sue Hall, said: “My father-in-law David Hall served with South Eastern Fire Brigade until 1967 when he was tragically killed following an accident in Edinburgh. He actually worked in the building that now houses the Museum of Fire. My grandsons Cameron and Robert, David’s great-grandsons, have always been so interested in their great-grandfather the firefighter.

“They have been so excited to come and see where David would have worked, visit the museum that’s now there and present a watch in memory of him. It’s been lovely for all our family to come and see but especially for my husband, David’s son, to see this part of his father’s past.”

Created through the display of fire engines, equipment and uniforms, the history of the first municipal fire brigade in Europe and fire fighting in Edinburgh between 1824 and the 1940s can be seen at the Museum of Fire in Lauriston Place.

Visits can be booked by emailing sfrs.newbridgesdaadmin@firescotland.gov.uk